Special Education, MA Ed (Advanced Practitioner - Behavioral Intervention Specialist)
Master of Arts in Education Degree in Special Education with an Emphasis in Advanced Practitioner - Behavioral Intervention Specialist
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Overview
Admissions and Requirements
Courses You’ll Take
Tuition & Fees
Program Overview
The online Special Education Advanced Practitioner with emphasis in Behavior Intervention Specialist Master of Arts in Education (MA Ed) is designed for individuals with a passion for working with students with learning impairments.
Why choose this program?
- Learn to identify strategies and interventions for serving students identified as having Behavior/Emotional disabilities or those on the Autism Spectrum.
- Gain skills to conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment, design and implement a Behavior Intervention Plan based on the assessment and implement Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports.
- Prepare for doctoral programs in Applied Behavior Analysis.
- Acquire content knowledge needed to pursue further certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
This endorsement allows the individual to teach children identified as having one of four disabilities:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Deaf-Blindness
- Multiple Disabilities
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Upon completion of this program, students are eligible for a Nebraska endorsement as a Behavior Interventionist. Students seeking endorsement in other states should check with their state department of education.
Career Outlook: Special education teachers engage with children and youth that have a wide variety of disabilities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the need for special education teachers will grow by about 8% from 2016-2026. Although most special education teachers work in public schools, some find jobs in the private sector taking care of special needs children in childcare services and other institutions.
More about the Special Education, MA Ed, Advanced Practitioner program: The Master of Arts in Education: Special Education Advanced Practitioner program is designed for teachers who currently hold certification in Special Education and would like to further their education.
Students have four options to choose from:
- Behavior Intervention Specialist
- Inclusion and Collaboration Specialist
- Assistive Technology Specialist Emphasis
- Functional Academic Skills and Independent Living Specialist Emphasis
Admissions and Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
A Bachelor's degree
2.75 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
A license/certificate required
Standard teaching certificate
Official transcripts from all previous schools
A professional biography
NOTE: If you reside in state(s) KY contact a program adviser before applying.
To apply to this program:
- Complete and submit the online application for admissions.
- Pay the $45 non-refundable application fee.
Courses You’ll Take
Core Courses
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| TE 800 | Educational Research | 3 |
This introductory online course in educational research focuses on evaluating and interpreting educational research and applying its findings to educational practice. | ||
| TESE 888 | Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports | 3 |
This course presents the latest in practices and research in the field of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS). Students will be exposed to strategies and interventions to change challenging behavior and effectively maintain appropriate behaviors of students through positive behavior interventions and supports. | ||
| TE 805P | Overview of Assertive Technology | 3 |
This course examines the applications of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities as it relates to teaching and learning. Existing research with students with special needs will be reviewed and new applications of existing and developing technology will be explored. | ||
| TESE 881 | Characteristics & Identification of Behavior & Learning Disabilities | 3 |
This course provides an in-depth coverage of the identification process, etiologies and characteristics associated with disorders that are categorized as learning disabilities or behavior disorders. Distinction from Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Severe Emotional Disturbance will be discussed. | ||
| TESE 867 | Functional Behavior Assessment & Behavior Intervention Planning | 3 |
This course is designed for graduate level students to examine function-based behavior intervention strategies for individuals with disabilities who engage in challenging behavior. Students will be taught basic elements of functional analysis that includes: defining, observing, and recording behaviors as well as the creation of graphic displays for analysis. Ethical standards for behavior management, crisis intervention, and positive behavioral support will be highlighted. This course contains a functional assessment/intervention field component. | ||
| TESE 882 | Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
This course provides an in depth examination of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Students will examine the history and development of ABA as well as the use of ABA in the education of and research with individuals with disabilities. | ||
| TE 804 | Curriculum Development in Multicultural Education | 3 |
Students learn to evaluate, create, and implement multicultural lesson plans, unit plans, textbooks, curriculum guides, classroom rules and regulations, and school policies. | ||
| TE 803 | Philosophy of Education | 3 |
Survey of the philosophical foundations of western culture and their relation to the development of earlier and contemporary educational philosophies. | ||
| TESE 879P | Teaching Social Skills to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder | 3 |
This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to teach Social and Personal Skills for students with disabilities. Students will be exposed to various Social and Personal Skills programs and strategies that are presently available that have been designed for students with special needs. The development of role play, problem solving, social story, and social script techniques will be emphasized. In addition, students will be able to develop individualized instruction for students based on needs assessment data. Students will also apply their knowledge of age appropriateness in the development of social and personal skills lessons. | ||
| TE 829 | Assessment of Young Children: Birth to Five | 3 |
This course prepares students to evaluate assessment tools for young children, determine their appropriateness for various purposes, write and interpret evaluation reports, and translate assessment results into intervention goals and strategies. In field experiences students administer tests and interpret and report results. Prerequisite: TESE 827P or departmental permission. Additional Course Fee Required | ||
| TESE 880 | Critical Issues in Special Education | 3 |
This course provides students with the knowledge and understanding of the critical issues facing the field of Special education. Professional ethics and code of conduct will be emphasized. | ||
| TESE 883 | Intervention Strategies for Individuals with Behavioral & Emotional Disabilities | 3 |
This course will examine research effective strategies and interventions for working with students that have behavioral and emotional disabilities. Interventions appropriate for the three tiers of intervention will be explored. | ||
Tuition & Fees
Nebraska Residents
Per Credit Hour
- Tuition
- $315.00
- Fees
- $52.25
- Total
- $367.25
3 Credit Hours
- Tuition
- $945.00
- Fees
- $156.75
- Total
- $1101.75
Out of State Residents
Per Credit Hour
- Tuition
- $444.00
- Fees
- $52.25
- Total
- $496.25
3 Credit Hours
- Tuition
- $1332.00
- Fees
- $156.75
- Total
- $1488.75
About Faculty
University of Nebraska online courses are taught by expert faculty who embody the qualities resulting from research experience and professional/field experience. Students learn from faculty with a variety of backgrounds, many of whom are published researchers in their fields. NU faculty who teach online do so in a way that optimizes learning within the online modality and because technology enables students to access education they may otherwise may not be able to pursue.
Application Deadlines
- Fall SemesterJul 10
- Spring SemesterNov 10
- Summer SessionsApr 10
